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Space Is Just a Little Bit Closer Than Expected

Posted by timothy on from the winter-shrinkage dept.

SpuriousLogic points out a BBC story which begins "The upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere are much lower than expected, a US Air Force satellite has found. Currently, the ionosphere — a layer of charged particles that envelopes the planet — is at an altitude of about 420km, some 200km lower than expected. The behaviour of the ionosphere is important because disturbances in its structure can upset satellite communications and radar."

2 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. below 30MHz by FudRucker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    HF propagation is effected too...

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    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  2. Metric vs Imperial by bangzilla · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Are we sure that they measured the distance in KM - what if it was miles, or furlongs, or rods, or perches....? I understand that this type of mistake has happened in the recent past.

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    Rich people are eccentric. Poor people are strange. Me, I'd be happy with odd.